Sykes and Kawasaki back on top in Q2

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) moved back to the top of the timesheets in second qualifying with a time of 1 minute 31.323 seconds to head the 16 who go into this afternoon's Tissot-Superpole session. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) moved up to second place overall after recording the fastest ever top speed at Phillip Island, 323.7 km/h. Right behind the 2010 champion were three Ducatis in the hands of Carlos Checa, Jakub Smrz and Sylvain Guintoli.

Overnight leader Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike) neither improve his time nor his position and in fact dropped down to eighth place. The Northern Irishman crashed and his Honda team mechanics took less than 10 minutes to replace the damaged handlebars, fairing and exhausts. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO Aprilia) also crashed, suffering a suspected broken left wrist in the process and has been declared unfit to continue, with two still convalescent riders Eugene Laverty (eleventh) and Leon Haslam immediately behind.